A Quality of Mercy

As we bring the year to a close, we fell a little short on time this year.  We did not get the chance to spend as much time in class viewing your video productions, and we definitely didn't have as much time as I would have liked to discuss Hiroshima in more detail.  Therefore, I wanted to offer you links to the videos that some of your peers have done.  There will also be videos uploaded to dropbox as well.  Please take the time to view them if you haven't already.  They are fantastic!  After you view them please take a second to vote for the best videos here.  (link to be provided shortly)

Also, I am linking a video that I usually play at the end of Hiroshima that we just ran out of time for.  It is a Twilight Zone episode (another one, I know).  I think that it does a really good job of touching on some of the issues we began discussing when reading the story.  It presents an interesting way of shifting perspectives (pay attention to how they do it!) and it underscores the importance of being objective, and seeing things from both sides.  The title comes from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, which reads, "The quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It blesseth him that gives and him that takes."  I think this quote is an excellent way to bring to a close some of the complex moral issues that we have discussed through literature this year and I am interested in your perspective on it.

Since we ran out of time, I am offering this as extra credit.  It's not too long, and you might find it interesting.  I am putting some questions here to get the conversation started, but feel free to add your own responses, too.  Post your responses as comments here, so that we can have a discussion thread between those who are responding to this post.

A Quality of Mercy pt. 1
A Quality of Mercy pt. 2

In closing, this has been a great year and I am very proud of all that you have accomplished.  Good luck with your summer reading choices, and of course, do not hesitate to e-mail me if you have questions, struggles, or concerns.  I will be looking to you for your feedback and suggestions for future summer reading books when you return in the fall, so take notes and be ready with suggestions!  And, most importantly, keep studying for the SAT and start touring schools this summer.  I will send out e-mails in the fall to remind you about letters of recommendation, but the sooner you get on top of it the better!  Good luck and enjoy your summer!